COMBINED DROP AND SPRAY NOZZLE

Abstract: The invention envisages a nozzle for use with pressurized containers, or dispensers, having a combined facility for the dosing or spraying of gas or liquid in aerosol form. Such functions are achieved in that the nozzle is provided with a push-button (1) which may be operated as desired and which, when pushed, activates a valve cone (2) seated in or by the opening of the delivery outlet (3) of the container and, at the same time as pressure is applied to the nozzle, is able to throttle the flow to the desired degree or may entirely enclose the product, and thereby enable its discharge in discrete doses, in an intermediary chamber (4) of fixed or adjustable volume.

Description: COMBINED DROP AND SPRAY NOZZLE The present invention envisages a nozzle for use with pressurized containers, or dispensers, having a combined facility for the dosing or spraying of gas or liquid in aerosol form. Products contained in pressurized containers are difficult to dose in small .amounts and are hence difficult to direct or position with any degree of accuracy in, for example, the lubrication of precision-made mechanical components. Devices intended solely for discharge of the product from the container in the form of discrete doses are already known. The purpose of the present invention is to combine this function with a function permitting both stepless adjustment of the product flow and discharge of the product in the form of an aerosol spray. Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the figures in the drawing appended hereto. These are as follows: Fig. 1 shows the basic design of the invention, which may be modified as shown in figures 4 to 6. Fig. 2 shows a version of the invention having an enlarged intermediary chamber. Fig. 3 shows a version of the invention having an enlarged, adjustable intermediary chamber Fig. 4 shows a version of the invention having a closable cap. Fig. 5 shows a version of the invention having an adjustable stop. Fig. 6 shows a version of the invention having the push-button in an alternative position. The invention, which interacts with the discharge valve and delivery outlet 3 of the pressurized container, enables a gas or aerosol to be discharged in doses of the desired amount either by throttling the flow of liquid or by the use of an intermediary chamber, which may be either fixed or adjustable in volume. Such functions are achieved in that the nozzle is provided with a push¬ button 1 which may be operated as desired and which, when pushed, activates a valve cone 2 seated in or by the opening of the delivery outlet 3, which is itself adjustable such that the opening may be adjusted to any setting between completely open and completely closed. The push-button may be pre-set by means of an adjustable stop, (fig. 5, 7) or may be protected against unintentional pressure either by its position (fig. 6) or by shielding it under a closable cap (fig. 4, 6). For delivery of the product in discrete doses, the nozzle uses the delivery outlet 3 as an intermediary chamber 4; the capacity of the delivery outlet 3 is about one drop of liquid plus propellant (fig. 1) . Variants of the invention may comprise a chamber of enlarged volume, which may be fixed in size (fig. 2) or be adjustable by means of a set screw 5 or similar device (fig. 3), which chamber is located in a cavity or hollow section of the nozzle and communicates with the opening of the delivery outlet 3 and the valve mechanism 2 activated by the push-button. Containers without a delivery outlet 3 may be fitted with an adapter. The function of the invention is as follows: For stepless adjustment of a continuous or intermittent flow of product, pressure is applied to the push-button 1 such as to produce the desired degree of throttling, at the same time as pressure is applied to the nozzle, bringing the delivery outlet 3 into an inserted position and opening the valve of the container. For spraying, no pressure is applied to the push-button 1 and the product is given free passage. For discharge of the product in discrete doses, pressure is applied to the push-button 1 such as to close the opening fully, at the same time as pressure is applied to the nozzle, bringing the delivery outlet 3 into an inserted position and opening the valve of the container and filling the intermediary chamber 4 under pressure. The product contained in the intermediary chamber 4 is released and flows out of the nozzle as the pressure on the push-button 1 is released and after the valve of the container has closed. The product contained in the intermediary chamber 4 can be discharged in discrete doses if pressure is applied to the push-button 1 once again.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for use with a pressurized container, such as an aerosol dispenser for liquid products, in which the container is provided with an axially movable delivery outlet, which in its inserted, or inner, position opens the valve of the container and in its extracted, or outer, position closes the valve of the container, in which the opening of the delivery outlet (3) interacts with a nozzle provided with a valve mechanism enabling discharge of the product from the container in discrete doses and which should preferably be fitted with an extension tube, characterized in that the valve mechanism, in addition to discharge of the product in discrete doses enables stepless adjustment of the product flow by means of the action of a push- button (1) which may be operated as desired and which acts on a valve cone (2) which in its home position and with the container valve open permits free passage of the product, but which when acted upon enables discharge of the product in the form of a reduced flow, both continuous and intermittent. 2. Device of claim 1, characterized in that a cavity (4) having a steplessly adjustable (5) volume is provided in the nozzle communicating with the opening of the delivery outlet (3) and the valve mechanism (2) acted upon by the push-button. 3. Device of either of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a closable cap (6) is mounted on the nozzle above the push¬ button (1) . 4. Device of any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the push-button (1), and hence the position of the valve cone (2), may be pre-set by means of an adjustable stop (7).

Inventors: JOENSSON LARS-ERIK, JOENSSON, LARS-ERIK
Applicants: JOENSSON LARS ERIK, JOENSSON, LARS-ERIK
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65D83
IPC codes: B05B1, B05B9, B65D83, G01F11